When he ran for president, Joe Biden said his Cabinet would “look like America”. If Mr. Biden’s choices are confirmed by the Senate, his Cabinet will include more different kinds of people than any Cabinet in US history.
Long ago, and until fairly recently, almost all of the people involved in the US government were white men.
(Source: The White House, via Twitter.)
The first woman ever to serve in a Cabinet position was Francis Perkins in 1933. In 1953, Oveta Culp Hobby became the second. There wasn’t another one until 1975. The first Black Cabinet member was Robert C. Weaver in 1966. There wasn’t another one until 1975.
Things have changed slowly over time, but the balance has still leaned heavily toward white men. The Brookings Institute reports that under the last three presidents, about 72% of the people in Cabinet-level positions were white, and about 73% were men.
(Source: Social Security Online [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.)
Mr. Biden’s Cabinet choices, if they’re approved, will change that. His will be the first Cabinet with an equal number of men and women, and the first where over half of the Cabinet are people of color.
Vice President Kamala Harris is the most well-known member of Mr. Biden’s Cabinet. Ms. Harris is the first woman, first Black person, and first Asian person to hold the office of Vice President.
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Mr. Biden’s choices, if approved, will form the first Cabinet with an equal number of men and women, and the first where over half of the Cabinet are people of color. Vice President Kamala Harris (above) is the most well-known member of Mr. Biden’s Cabinet.
Here’s a look at some of Mr. Biden’s other Cabinet choices.
The Senate has confirmed General Lloyd Austin as the Secretary of Defense. General Austin is the first Black man to lead the US military forces.
Janet Yellen has also been approved by the Senate. She’s the first female Secretary of the Treasury – a very important position as the US tries to help its people and businesses with the money problems caused by the coronavirus.
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The Senate has confirmed General Lloyd Austin as the Secretary of Defense. General Austin is the first Black man to lead the US military forces. Above, General Austin is sworn in as Secretary of Defense on Monday.
Mr. Biden chose US Congresswoman Deb Haaland as the Secretary of the Interior. She’s the first Native American to be appointed as a Cabinet secretary. If confirmed, she’ll be in charge of taking care of all of the government’s lands, including national parks.
Ms. Haaland will also oversee the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It will be the first time in America’s long history that a Native American will be in charge of how the government treats Native Americans.
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Mr. Biden chose Deb Haaland (above) as the Secretary of the Interior – the first Native American to be chosen as a Cabinet secretary. If confirmed, she’ll be the first Native American to be in charge of how the government treats Native Americans.
Last year, Pete Buttigieg ran against Mr. Biden to be the Democratic candidate for president. Now Mr. Biden has chosen him as Secretary of Transportation. If he’s approved, he’ll become the first openly gay Cabinet secretary confirmed by the Senate.
In another first, Mr. Biden has named Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security. If confirmed, he’ll become the first immigrant and first Latino to hold the position.
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In another first, Mr. Biden has named Alejandro Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security. If confirmed, he’ll become the first immigrant and first Latino to hold the position. Above, Mr. Mayorkas speaks to Senate members.
Mr. Biden’s choices also include:
• Xavier Becerra – first Latino to lead the Department of Health and Human Services
• Avril Haines – the first woman Director of National Intelligence
• Michael Regan – first Black man to lead the Environmental Protection Agency
• Katherine Tai – the first woman of color and first Asian American to serve as US Trade Representative
• Neera Tanden – first woman of color to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget
In addition to the Cabinet level positions, Mr. Biden has appointed many other women and minorities to other important positions in the government.